Your mindset is everything. Achieving a goal is looking at the end and reverse engineering the steps to achieve it. While it is simple, it is not easy.

Limiting beliefs can be so strong that they can cause you not to take action, or to take action doing the wrong things. This has been true in my life.

My Former Limiting Beliefs:

1. I am too shy / introverted to start a business

Learning – If you’re scared, do it anyway. Throw yourself in the deep end and you will learn the skill pretty quickly. I knocked on 3000 doors and talked to homeowners. I was super scared to do this but once you’re in it, you figure it out.

2. Every good painter who is on earth will start their own business, so I will never have competent staff

Learning – Get to know the great staff you already have. Tell them how thankful you are for them. Make a great environment that will attract “A” players. Be a great employer and people will want to work with you. Make the job itself awesome and don’t take your foot off the gas with recruiting

3. Countries across the world are dangerous and you won’t survive because you don’t know the language

Learning – Every country has dangerous and non-dangerous areas. Not knowing the language doesn’t make it any more dangerous. I felt just as safe backpacking in Vietnam and Thailand as I do in Langley. (Wish I could say the same for Surrey (kidding))

4. As an entrepreneur, you need your phone on 24/7 or you will not succeed / your business will not grow

Learning – Being “On” 24/7 makes you scattered and stressed. If you know your phone is off on Saturday and Sunday, you will be more productive during the week. Less Facebook. Less Instagram. I’ve learned to turn my phone off on weekends and to deal with the messages on Monday.

5. “Sleep is for the weak. Sleep when you’re dead, bro.”

Learning – Sleep deprivation is not a badge of courage. It’s harder to get 8 good hours of sleep than a short night of sleep. I’ve found my thinking to be 10X more clear and increased productivity with proper sleep.

6. You need a new shiny truck to be a contractor and to crush deals

Learning – A big truck would be sweet. I would love to have one. Right now, I drive a 10 year old Honda Civic. Company image is very important but so long as your ride is functional, it’s not going to inhibit you getting the job or not

7. Keep the posts coming and better than the last

Learning – Instagram and Facebook will drive you crazy if you let it. Our brains love the constant affirmation – the likes and attention. Brainstorming up the next post is a huge waste of time. You’ll be more happier just living your life, not caring what other people think.

8. Say “Yes” to as many things as you can

Learning – The word “No” is a very powerful word. Saying no to all good opportunities means you have time for the great opportunities. I used to say “yes” to everything and everyone and jam pack every day. Saying “No” is super difficult and a skill I’m still working on.

I have had a lot of fun these past 6 years painting over 800 homes with my team in Surrey and Langley. With the painting business running well, I have decided to move into the house washing industry. The main reasons that attracted me to this industry were:

Fragmented industry – many competitors but no dominant industry leader with a for-purpose business model

Accessibility – Similar to painting in that house washing is not a sought-after job homeowners can easily do themselves

Re-occuring revenue – Servicing a client excellently will likely result in more future work

The most important reason with starting this business is my personal passion for bringing clean drinking water to people who do not have it. Over the past 2 years, I have worked with charity:water in New York City sponsoring well projects in Cambodia, Nepal, and India. We are currently working on our 3rd well. I wanted to start a business that married my passion for business with my passion for social entrepreneurship. Out of this passion, Revive Washing was born, a heart-centered brand caring about more than just profit. Revive is a for profit business and with each house we wash, we bring clean drinking water to a person in need. One for one.

We currently have 1 truck on the road in Surrey and Langley. Our 2017 plan is to fully book up our crew and continue building a solid brand. A brand which stands not only for excellent customer service, but also a brand which benefits those who do not have a voice, those who cannot speak for themselves.

With the launch of this new brand, it is exciting to pair my hunger for business with my passion for clean drinking water. This is a job which I can wake up every morning ready to work on, and that excites me.

Check us out further online at revivewashing.com drop me a line anytime at dave@revivewashing.com

Our all-star technician Graham took time out of his busy schedule to give some feedback on his past year washing houses with Revive Washing. We asked Graham 5 pointed questions and here is what he told us.

1. What did you enjoy most about working with Revive Washing this past year?

There are two primary reasons I enjoy working for Revive: (1) The work is physically challenging and mentally engaging. (2) Dave looks out for his employees, maintaining our safety and encouraging a healthy working environment.

2. What is the most common question you receive from homeowners?

The most common question I received from home owners would likely be: “How long is this going to take?” (the answer is almost always 4-6 hrs).

3. What do you think of working with a company that raises money for clean drinking water?

It is cool that Revive is a company that uses water locally to give water globally. I feel proud to be a part of a company that promotes a charitable spirit.

4. What’s the most unenjoyable part of your job?

No job is perfect and so I would say that the cold, rainy days are probably the roughest part of the job.

Spending 2 weeks in Costa Rica and 2 weeks in Nicaragua was a fun adventure. The flight was $438 CAD from Vancouver to San Jose Costa Rica (round trip). Shout out to Delta Airlines. Also providing some wonderful snacks. (Pictured below)

Travel does not have to be expensive. In fact, I think it’s more fun when it’s done on a budget. This trip was unique because I got to with 3 of my best friends. Also splitting private rooms 4 ways was excellent for the budget.

COSTA RICA:

Costa Rica had some beautiful destinations. Most notably Manuel Antonio National Park where there was cool hikes in the rain forest. Secondly La Fortuna we hiked down to a 75m waterfall (name) which was beautiful

It was also in Costa Rica we survived a tropical storm (effect of Hurricane Otto). We lived to tell about it.

The Good:

Friendly local people

Nature – monkeys, sloths, etc

Hiking in the rain forest

The Bad:

Expensive – Food was comparably priced to what it would cost in the USA. If you’re looking to stretch a dollar it will be hard to stay in Costa Rica for more than a few days.

No Bartering – Prices are set in Costa Rica. We struck out trying to barter prices especially on food

NICARAGUA:

Nicaragua is beautiful. We spent over a week in San Juan Del Sur. San Juan is Nicaragua’s home base, attracting many tourists. If you love the beach, tacos, and happy hour you are in luck. To me San Juan felt similar to Hawaii at 10% of the price and yes not quite as nice as Hawaii.

The Good:

Beer everywhere is $1.00 to $1.50

Food is tasty and affordable

Beautiful sunsets

Cheap activities – $35 gets you a 200cc dirtbike for the full day

Volcano boarding in Leon – The hike up the volcano is beautiful

The Bad:

We were only in Nicaragua 2 weeks but I don’t have any negatives.
Summary:

It was great to get a small taste of each country. I preferred Nicaragua as we could stretch our budget much further for food, lodging, and activities. 2 weeks in each country is barely scraping the surface but was still awesome to experience.

Up until 25 years of age I played soccer, finished a business degree, and ran a successful painting business. When I turned 25 years old I wanted to switch it up, to try something new. I bought a backpack on Craigslist and a plane ticket to Bangkok, Thailand. I set off on an adventure to take an extended vacation and get some good eats along the way. What I didn’t know was that this trip would open my eyes to the world.What I learned on this trip was that people in our world live in poverty. I saw it first hand and if affected me greatly.

This trip to Thailand started a trend of working hard for 11 months and then backpacking in the winter time to places where they don’t have what we have. For a month each year, I forgo my Starbucks, and car and trade it for sweaty buses and new experiences. The past 3 winters I have explored places in Asia like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia as well as countries in Central America like Costa Rica and Nicauragua. These trips have stretched me and broadened my perspective.
The same lesson rings true in my travels: The rest of the world does not have what we have. It may be easy to believe but this message was not internalized for me until I saw it with my own eyes. The big takeaway is that I realized from backpacking is that I want to help people with their most basic need. I want to help people have clean drinking water.
I came back to Canada after my travels and continued to run my painting business. But I searched for something more. Something bigger then myself. I wanted to do more than just make money. I wanted to create a business that brings clean drinking water to those who need it. I started up a power washing business and called it “Revive Washing” Revive literally means to “bring life to” and because water is life I thought this would make sense. The business model of Revive is such that for each home we wash, we will bring clean drinking water to a person who needs it. One for one. How do we do this? We are partnered with charity:water who overseas the construction of the water wells.
I feel like I have one foot in Canada and I have one foot in poor countries. But I feel that through Revive we can use first world resources to help developing countries with their basic need for water.
Revive is only 6 months old and just getting going. I am excited to market the new business in the Greater Vancouver Area. Revive provides excellent service in power washing, window washing, and gutter cleaning. I am really excited to build a business long term. A business I am deeply passionate about. I believe there is a lot of potential for Revive to grow into a strong brand. A brand representing social entrepreneurship.

I’ve spent time in Thailand the past 2 winters and loved it. Although I will not make it out that direction this winter, I wanted to make a top 10 list for those considering going. Thailand is an amazing country and even though I have been there twice there is still a ton I have not done or seen. This is just a start. But a start is better than nothing.

Rent a Scooter – This is the preferred method of transport. While scooters are a lot of fun, be very very careful as Thailand has the most motorcycle deaths per year of any country. Drive responsibly and you’ll have a good time.

2. Banana Pancakes – Simple but so tasty. These are a staple when you’re on the road. This was a friendly guy in Koh Samui who I met.

3. Elephant Sanctuary – I visited an ethical elephant sanctuary and got to feed a 6 month old baby elephant. There are a lot of places that don’t care for the elephants, so it’s important to find an ethical place.

4. Bike Tour – I took a bike tour in Bangkok on a pedal bike. We made it out to some beautiful scenery. Outside of the big city, Thailand has some incredibly beautiful scenery where life moves a little slower.

5. Long Tail Boat – This was on Chicken Island in Krabi, Thailand. Some of the best snorkelling is on this island if you go on a long tail boat ride. You can book a ticket on one of these boats and go see the island for about $10

6. Snorkelling – Further to the point above, the life under the water is amazing. Snorkelling tours are inexpensive, and you will make friends on the boat as well as under the sea.

7. La Bua Skybar – This roof top bar is in Bangkok and being 820 feet in the air gives you a solid view of the city. Also the bar that Hangover 2 was filmed at. The drinks are pricy ($10) but it’s a once in a lifetime.

8. Tiger Kingdom – If you’ve ever wanted to be in a cage with a Siberian tiger, this is a good place to do it. This is in Chiang Mai, a mountainous, beautiful city in Northern Thailand. There is also another tiger kingdom in Phuket, Thailand (south).

9. Phuket Jet Ski – Phuket is very touristy. Patong beach in Patong hosts thousands of people each day. I’d also highly recommend staying at the Patong Marina, as it’s the best place on the main street to stay.

10. Enjoy a Sunset – Thailand is famous for it’s world famous sunsets. Some of the best ones in my opinion are in Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta is a beautiful, chilled out island in the south of Thailand.

It’s been 6 years building a painting business. It’s been fun. It’s been challenging. And it’s been about hustling from day one.

Hustling isn’t taking mirror selfies telling everyone how hard you are working. Hustling is working hard when no one is watching. A real man in the dark when no one is watching, is putting in work. If you want anything you’re going to have to put in the work. Kind of like Rhianna says, “Work work work work..” (Not really).

Hustling is all about enjoying falling in love with the process. Not just falling in love with the end destination. While the end may be sweet to get to, it’s the struggle that makes you who you are.

Hustling is not about hitting home runs. Hustling is steadily hitting singles. Day in and day out. Hitting singles means working in the rain, going to the gym when you don’t feel like it, and it means letting your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no” (follow-through). Every. Single. Day.

Throughout the past 6 years, I never signed a $1,000,000 contract or hit it big on any one big job. I did however knock on thousands of doors and met with 3000+ homeowners to give them painting estimates. I’ve hired painters and fired painters. I’ve won jobs and lost jobs. It’s all a learning process.
It’s all about taking consistent, daily action steps. In the words of Eddie Cantor, “It takes 20 years to become an overnight success.”

5 short recommendations while you put in the work:

1. Take one day off a week (For me that’s Sundays). I mean a full day off. No checking emails. No calls. As hard as you work you need to have an off switch. Life is WAY more than business.

2. Treat people how you want to be treated. If you’re greedy and squeezing every last dollar from team members and customers no one’s going to want to work with you.

3. Keep your word even when it hurts. Do what you say you’re going to do. Don’t just be a big talker, but make sure your actions back up your words. People’s BS radars are very finely tuned. If you’re not genuine, people won’t want to work with you.

4. Surround yourself with great people – Its all about people. At the end of the day you are only as strong as your team is. Find some awesome people and work with them. You will make each other better. A rising tide lifts all boats.

5. Have fun! If you’re not having fun with what you’re working towards, you won’t last very long. Don’t be grumpy. Grumpy people suck and no one wants to be around them. Learn how to smile, laugh, and have fun; it will carry you a long way in the hustle.

Whatever you are hustling towards, whatever goal you may have, just know that good things take time and great things take struggle, hard work, and sacrifice. Let’s get to work.

Everyone wants to be happy. We often see people who seem to have everything in the world and think, “They must be so happy because they have all this stuff.” But research actually shows that only 10% of anyone’s happiness comes from anything circumstantial. Only 10%.

You want to be married and you’re not married, you want to be unmarried when you are married; if only you could change these situations, then you’d be happy. If you only had that new vehicle or that great house your friend has, then you’d be happy. If only! But these circumstances only give you a 10% bump in your happiness. So where’s the other 90%?

Research shows that it’s actually a set of practices, behaviours, and attitudes that happy people do and possess that unhappy people do not.

Happy people are:

1) Givers – They give more than they take. They give their resources. They give their time. They pick up the check at meals, they send handwritten notes in the mail, and they give encouragement to their friends and family.

2) Grateful – They say thank-you! Even the smallest things they are given, they say thank-you. They are not entitled; they don’t expect to be given things. They express gratitude every day. Because they are so thankful they are a people magnet and people want to be around them.

3) Forgiving – Happy people keep a short record of wrongs. They don’t have a mental scroll of all the wrongdoings people have done to them 10 years ago. They deal with it, they forgive, and they forget. Why would you want to carry around extra emotional baggage every single day of your life?

4) Goal-oriented – Happy people get stuff done! They are busy and they are generally super-efficient in time management. They often say “No” to opportunites because if it’s not a “Heck yes!” it’s a no. They are so goal-oriented that they can’t do every opportunity that comes their way because they are so focused on their goals. Goals can include anything from educational goals, career goals, fitness goals, learning new skills. The list is endless. The main point being happy people don’t drift through life. They are climbing north, learning and growing.

5) Connected – Happy people don’t live on an island. While they may require alone time to recharge they are dialed in with community and with relationships. They often float around with different associations (Community special interest groups, sports teams, co-workers, friends, family etc. etc.). Happy people know the importance of relationships and investing in the lives of other people.

I’m turning 27 this week and I’m super stoked. What is the ideal age? Good question. Honestly I think it’s an attitude how you view your life. I would say each year of my life has been better than the last.

26 was sweet and I learned some key lessons..

1. Busy – “I’m so busy!” Being busy is not advantageous and being overly busy is unattractive. Being busy does not give you a leg up on someone else; it doesn’t make you unique or give you special privileges. Telling someone you are busy is like telling them you are breathing. We get it. I’ve learned you don’t have to say yes to every opportunity. I used to say yes to everything for fear of missing out (FOMO). I have now discovered JOMO (Joy of missing out) is a real thing. If it’s not a “heck yes!” it’s a no.

2. Self-discipline – The strongest man is the man who has mastered himself. The disciplined man is the man to be respected. The world has enough guys who are immature and haven’t grown up. The strongest man is not the man who lifts the most weight, it’s the man with the most faith. Further to the point above, I am learning to discipline myself with getting proper sleep. I am far from perfect but I am learning.

3. Embrace the Pain – Temporary pain brings long term gain. The struggle builds your character. Navy Seal Rorke Denver says “Lean into your pain because that is where bravery lies”. If we don’t go through pain we will never grow. When you’re scared to do something, just do it. It will make you stronger.

4. Health – This is the first time in my life I’ve taken health more seriously. Staying in shape physically and watching what food your put in your body is important. Your energy levels are a direct result of diet, sleep, and physical exercise.

5. Fun Factor – Keeping the fun factor dial turned up to high is really important. It is possible to work really hard and have lots of fun. I’ve had years of my life where it’s all work and minimal fun. Whatever I do in my life, I try to find humour in it and that keeps life fun.

6. Embrace Vulnerability – It’s okay to not have only the answers. It’s okay to let your hair down once in a while. I’ve learned this year to be authentic and not a polished version of myself. People want to be around real people not people who are fake and look like they are all put together. I want to be a real person. And real people make mistakes.

7. Nothing for Granted – Travelling abroad in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia only strengthened observations from 2015 that we have it beyond great in North America. Having ample clean water, quality food, education, and a hot Starbucks drink is not normal. You think these things are a given until you go abroad and see how the rest of the world lives. Travelling builds perspective real quick.

8. Party4aPurpose – We hosted 2 charity water parties this year and raised over $8000 for our water well in Nepal. I learned it’s possible to use influence and business knowledge to really do something that benefits those who don’t have what we have. It’s possible to have fun and do something good.

9. God’s Provision – All gifts come from above from God. As hard as I work and as many ideas as I have it’s ultimately God who determines my steps. (Proverbs 16:9). I’ve learned this year that my 5 year plans often don’t pan out as I had thought. I’ve learned that God gives and takes away and to ultimately submit my plans to His.

And when on the road, lock your hotel room door. It keeps unexpected visitors out of your room.. (Story for another day)